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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Who is Tiffaney Bishop ?I am a mother of two young boys and a photographer. I began studying
photography part time 20 years ago whilst working in my former PR and
Marketing career. I have exhibited work over the years, the highlights
being:

A 3 month show at The Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne

Inclusion in the 2010 Toyota Emerging Art Award

Added to American Artist William
Kelly's International Humanist art Collection

Art & the communityFour years ago I established an
art collective that engages with the local community in and around the
Dandenong Ranges, in particular young artists and activists. Together we
have developed a formal collaborative art practice that is attracting national
and even international interest. We have recently opened a studio/gallery
in Belgrave which is proving to be a very interesting enterprise with many more
young people engaging with us because of our increased public presence. We have
several local art projects on the go and one in development that will see us
working with a New York based artist/group similar to our own and building a
body of work that will be exhibited at the National Gallery in Canberra next
year.

What's your decorating style at home?

Our home is quite humble on the exterior, but has quite
a 'handsome' interior, which has a very rustic appearance with
exposed rafters, rough hewn oregon lined walls and stained original
hardwood floors. The small areas of plaster are painted in antique white
throughout which creates a wonderful balance and foil for some of the rustic
features. Large red persian-style rugs inject a warmth and boldness without competing with the striking interior. We have resisted
painting much of the wooden features in the house as we feel that its character
and integrity is wrapped up in its original envelope. Whilst our soft
furnishings are fairly neutral, I have developed an interest in texture and
begun to understand the wonderful effects you can achieve by blending different
versions of neutral fabrics, textures and self patterning.

Styling tips or tricks for when you have guests?

We
have an open plan kitchen/dining/lounge area (very American Cabin-like). We restored the
original Rayburn oven in the kitchen and it makes great roasts and cakes! Although we
often have formal sit-down dinners we also often prepare big casual but
sumptuous spreads on the coffee table in front of the massive stone fireplace
and sit back in the leather chesterfields and graze for hours. I usually rely
on the garden for flowers and foliage for floral arrangements. My
favourite arrangements are large displays of 'about to burst' magnolia branches
which the hydronic heating in the house encourages a painterly show from within
a few hours of arranging. I also love to arrange large fern fronds with
wild strawberry vines and although the fern fronds don't last very long once
cut, they look amazing for a day or two. Equally, I love just dotting
little vases of jonquils or daphne around the place.

Cushion fiend or phobic?

I
love cushions, but don't have enough good ones at the moment. As I
mentioned before I am discovering the charm of textured fabrics and
self-embellishments and am focusing more on this important room detail.

Where do you source/buy your furnishings ?

I tend to use the internet- recently I bought some Florence Broadhurst cushions online.

For more cabin decor ideas have a peek at Country Kitchens and stay posted for living areas and childrens rooms

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

aaahhh...rustic country kitchens make my heart skip a beat- this authentic weatherboard, Ferny Creek cabin is tucked away in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges with killer views to Swanston Street Melbourne! Home Beautiful commissioned a shoot a few months ago and it was a wintery, aubergine dream to style. Normally I search for flowers & cushions...this was all about root vegetables and chunky breadsticks.

The owner, Tiffaney Bishop is an artist and quell suprese a stylist, with a twist. Stay posted for more of Tiffaney's beautiful home and an exclusive interview with some of her insider tips on country decorating and maybe a good soup recipe or two.